INDUCTION
ACUPUNCTURE

SUPPORT YOUR BODY
FOR A NATURAL BIRTH

INDUCTION ACUPUNCTURE GOLD COAST

Most commonly a woman becomes post term, meaning she has significantly past her due date, which falls at 40 weeks. Although a full term pregnancy can last anywhere from 38 to 42 weeks. There is often an imposed medical limit as to the number of days past 40 weeks that the pregnancy is allowed to continue as the uterine environment will begin to deteriorate compromising foetal health.

Induction is also considered if the mother’s health or life would be endangered by continuing the pregnancy. Diabetes, heart condition, kidney disease, severe pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure) are some of the health problems which can affect mother’s health.

When labour fails to progress, syntocinon (a hormone) is given intravenously to induce contractions. The disadvantages of hormonally induced labour are that women often find the contractions too intense, painful and difficult to cope with and will often require epidural anaesthesia to deal with the pain of labour.

INDUCING LABOUR WITH ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture treatments may be used to assist the woman’s body for labour as efficiently as possible. Once treatments was applied in the last 4 weeks before the due date for delivery, acupuncture has been observed to reduce the rates of medical induction, epidurals and emergency cesarian.(1)

Induction acupuncture may be performed once a medical induction has been scheduled or once women have a premature rupture of membranes.

Acupuncture has also been shown to assist with cervical ripening (2), reduction in pain and labour duration.(3)

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR SESSION

Mothers will often feel very calm and relaxed after the session. During the session you will lay in a comfortable position supported with a comfortable pregnancy pillow while tiny little needles are superficially inserted on particular acupuncture points. You will then relax for around 20 minutes. This treatment may be needed to be repeated three days consecutively.

We work in conjunction with midwives and patients from the Gold Coast hospital and the Birthing Centre as well as patients attending the Mater Hospital in Brisbane

Midwives often recommend patients seeing us in preparation for birth and particularly on the day they have the “stretch and sweep” or “membrane sweep” performed.

WHEN TO START INDUCTION ACUPUNCTURE

We suggest starting treatments to prepare for birth anywhere from 35-36 weeks. However, if you don’t commence treatments at 36 weeks, you may still benefit from the acupuncture treatments. The sooner you start preparing for birth, the better will be to prepare mother and baby for delivery.

A lot of overdue mothers only discover about induction acupuncture, when they are already 39, 40, 41 weeks pregnant. This treatment may be needed to be repeated three days consecutively.

Hantoushzadeh S et al, Acupuncture and Pregnancy; The effects of acupuncture during labour on nulliparous women: a randomised control trial. Australian and New Zeland Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2007;47(1);26-30.